THE Y-8 civil freighter, a new version of the Y-8 series of aircraft developed and made by the Shaanxi Aircraft Manufacturing Co, has passed inspections by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The medium-range aircraft has four 4,250-horsepower turboprop engines, is capable of flying at up to 550 kilometres per hour and can carry a cargo of up to 20 tonnes. China's Ministry of Posts recently placed an order for three Y8-Fs, bringing the total number of Y8 series sales to 43.